Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
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The Coming Revolution in Africa
A rising generation of small farmers promises not only to put food on the African table but to fundamentally change the continent’s economic and political life.
The heat is deadening. After a morning picking cotton on the side of a hill, Souley Madi, wearing a knock-off Nike T-shirt and thongs made from discarded tires, staggers down a steep slope, a heavy bag of cotton bolls on his back. Reaching his small compound 10 minutes later, he greets his two wives. The older one nurses a baby while preparing a lunch of maize and cassava. The second wife, visibly pregnant, rises from a seat under a shade tree, responding to Madi’s instructions. He wants to impress his foreign visitor, so he prepares to introduce his latest agro-business brainstorm.
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G. Pascal Zachary teaches journalism at Stanford University and is finishing a book on Africa for Scribner.
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The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and in no way represent the views or opinions of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. This section is moderated by Wilson Quarterly staff.
I totally agree
Yes I totally agree! There is hope for Africa. I am part of vertically integrated poultry production company and we are working with small scale farmers and this is the answer for Africa. Thanks for publishing this positive article!
Posted by: Wilfred | 1/24/08
the African farmer and her husband
"a man with a hoe" Is a gross mischaracterization of African agriculture. "A woman with a hoe" is closer to the reality in most of sub-saharan Africa.
Posted by: barry levine | 8/28/08